Interim results of the spring flood on the Lower Volga
23 May 2025

Interim results of the spring flood on the Lower Volga

On May 20, a meeting on the interim results of the spring flood was held at the residence of the Governor of the Astrakhan Region Igor Babushkin, in which the head of the Volga-Caspian branch of the State Research Center of the Russian Federation "All-Russian Research Institute of Fisheries and Oceanography" (VNIRO) Anatoly Bogachev made a report on the state of the flood situation in the Astrakhan Region in 2025.
 
At the initiative of the governor, the service for nature management and environmental protection, together with the Volga-Caspian branch of VNIRO, developed a strategy for the rational use of the existing volume of water, which helps prevent negative consequences for the conservation and reproduction of aquatic biological resources in the region against the background of low water levels due to a warm winter with little precipitation in the upper reaches of the Volga.
 
As a result, Rosvodresur changed the original scenario of the spring flood in favor of the Astrakhan Region. The fishery shelf was extended until May 26, so that the fish had time to spawn.
 
In connection with the spawning, from May 16 to June 20, a general ban on fishing is in effect in the Astrakhan Region, with the exception of water bodies of fishery importance within the administrative boundaries of populated areas. But even within their boundaries, restrictions on fishing gear and the daily catch rate, which is no more than 10 kg per person, continue to apply. Violators face fines, and in some cases, criminal liability.
 
In addition, this year the ban on catching roach has been extended. If last year there was a ten-day "window" for catching, now until the end of 2025 there is a complete ban on industrial and amateur fishing of roach. Over the past decade, the population of this fish has decreased by 2.5 times. And these measures are designed to replenish bioresources. According to the Governor of the Astrakhan Region, Igor Babushkin, it is important to assess the effect of the ban and consider extending it for the coming years. Representatives of the scientific community say that it will take at least five years to restore the population.
 
The restrictions are already bearing fruit. According to the head of the Volga-Caspian branch of VNIRO, Anatoly Bogachev, over the year the average size of roach has increased from 14.7 to 17.8 cm. And the ban on small-mesh seines in the current flood conditions contributed to the passage of a larger number of producers of both roach and other fish species to spawning grounds, which was observed in the form of longer migrations recorded by scientific staff at the fishing grounds. To monitor the situation in the region, daily interdepartmental raids on water bodies continue with the participation of employees of fisheries protection, police, prosecutor's office, Emergencies Ministry, and border service.
 
Source: press service of the Governor of the Astrakhan Region.